Wijnaldum in a world XI
Box to box player with no stand out quality, but a jack of all trades. Provides good balance and is a big game player.Wijnaldum in a world XI
Wijnaldum is an insane pick despite his improvement, but that Silva choice and the reason behind it I like a lot. Messi is so good that the team is still basically built around him and so picking someone who runs all day and can cover CM and RW like Bernardo Silva or Eriksen or De Bruyne if you trust the Belgian to do a job (the last 2 being great crossers from the right so would be a perfect fit there offensively).
He's just been an integral part of a team winning the CL, and it's based solely on this season.Wijnaldum in a world XI
Dani Alves was the best RB in the World in 2010 and he was not starting consistently for Brazil back then.
We're not quite Brazil and Cancelo's not exactly being benched by peak Maicon...
But, isn't that on the manager? Based on this season's form should Semedo be Portugal's starting RB?We're not quite Brazil and Cancelo's not exactly being benched by peak Maicon...
Seriously though, what Juve games have people been watching to think he's the best rightback in the world?
Yeah, Busquets and Modric haven't been replaced yet so the position is weak. Presumably someone like Rodri will be in teams by next year's thread. Pogba might be back too. Also Kante had to play a new position in a new system, probably still should be in most teams.
Tackle/interception stats for center backs are among the most meaningless stats in the game. De Ligt plays in an incredibly dominant team that spends most of the time in attack. Rio Ferdinand would average less tackles or interceptions per 90 minutes than Phil Jagielka, you wouldn't argue that the latter was superior, would you?
2010? Maicon was a level above Dani Alves. Maicon at his best was better than Dani Alves
They haven't watched any games. He's linked with a transfer to City for £50m so folks have decided he's the best about.We're not quite Brazil and Cancelo's not exactly being benched by peak Maicon...
Seriously though, what Juve games have people been watching to think he's the best rightback in the world?
To me it’s not about quality but reflects the transition we are in as the next generation of players become established. Don’t see that the quality of performance has dipped, more that the reputations of the emerging stars are still forming and it takes some time for popular consensus to recognise the flawless recent performances of the likes of Silva, De Jong, Van Dijk, Koulibaly and even Hazard.
Aye, I was kind of thinking about that while writing my post. We had the Barca and Madrid teams where you could pinpoint midfielders like Modric/Kroos/Busquets/Xavi/Iniesta as WC players in the CM but you wouldn't say that about any of the Liverpool squad who are this short periods top dogs in Europe atm. When both Barca and Madrid were dominating Europe they had quality midfielders, you wouldn't put any of the Liverpool midfield in the elite tiers tbh.
De Jong is quite special - Modric as a natural holding player. The individual battle between the two of them in the Champions League Second Leg was a joy to watch. The first leg of that tie is the only game I’ve seen this season of De Jong that I thought was less than stellar.
The point is quite clear — since the beginning of the season he was consistently underperforming compared to his own ridiculous standards (a few games aside), while the likes of ter Stegen and Alisson both improved their already outstanding level of performances.
